Bali

Staying Connected in Bali

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Bali generally has good network coverage. In the mountains you may find patches where there is limited network coverage but you are never far from a phone line that works. The cheapest way to make any international calls is through Skype (www.skype.com) or any voice-over Internet protocol services.

In Lombok, phones are available in the cities and all tourist areas and all mobile phones work in these areas, too. In some of the more remote areas, particularly close to mountains, signals can fail.

Telephone Dialing at a Glance

To place a call from your home country to Bali: Dial the international access code (011 in the U.S. and Canada, 0011 in Australia, 0170 in New Zealand, 00 in the U.K.), plus Indonesia's country code (62), the city or local area code (361 for Kuta/Seminyak, Jimbaran, Nusa Dua, Sanur, and Ubud; 362 for Lovina; 363 for Candidasa; 370 for Lombok and the Gilis), and the six-digit phone number (for example, 011 62 362 000000). Mobile phone numbers do not have a city or local area code, and begin with an 8 followed by a long string of numbers. Dial Indonesia's country code (62) followed by the number.

To place a call within Indonesia: You must use the area code if calling between states. For calls within the country, area codes are all preceded by a 0 (for instance, 0361 for Kuta/Seminyak, Jimbaran, Nusa Dua, Sanur, and Ubud, 0363 for Candidasa, 0370 for Lombok, and so on). Dial the city or area code preceded by a 0, and then the local number (for example, 0362/000000). For mobile phones, add a 0 to the number.

To make a landline call to a local landline phone, do not include the local code (that is, dial 1234567 not 0361/1234567).

To place a direct international call from Indonesia: Dial the international access code (00), plus the country code, the area or city code, and the number (for example, to call the U.S., you'd dial 00 1 000/000-0000). International country codes are: Australia, 61; Canada, 1; New Zealand, 64; U.K., 44; U.S., 1.

To reach the international operator: Dial 102.

Cellphones

Nowadays, most mobile phones have the technology to work overseas. While this is a benefit, the cost of using your home mobile phone is prohibitively expensive. Instead, buy a local SIM card from one of the thousand wartels (phone shops) that surround the islands and use it in your phone. Bali and Lombok offer a variety of networks, each of which has different benefits. Try to establish from the seller which is the best for your needs and what promotions are available for each network. Expect to pay around Rp50,000 for your SIM card alone. You will then need to buy some credit -- start off with Rp1,000,000.

Internet Access

Wi-Fi access is increasingly common in Bali. More and more hotels, restaurants, and cafes offer Wi-Fi -- especially in the south. Not all offer it for free, some still charge and you are also encouraged to buy a drink or something to eat.

Inland, in the central mountains, network coverage is limited and what Internet service is available is so painfully slow that it's not worth the effort. Wartels, supermarkets, and restaurants up and down the coast offer Internet access. You can pay anything between Rp10,000 and Rp30,000 an hour for the service.

For Lombok, Internet access and Internet cafes are available in cities and all tourist areas. In the villages and remote locations, there is usually no Internet and often no computers.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.